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The court heard he smashed into a van being driven by plumber Simon Gurnhill after driving straight through a red light on the outskirts of Lincoln.

Both Mr Gurnhill and Shaunie Tebbutt, who was being given a lift in Gaskin's 4x4 Jeep Cherokee, suffered serious injuries and were taken to the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham.

Mr Gurnhill had visited his girlfriend earlier in the evening and was turning right out of Tiber Road to Newark Road in North Hykeham when he was struck by the vehicle.

The plumber suffered serious injuries which included a punctured lung, cuts to his liver and kidney and six fractured ribs.

He spent nine days in hospital.

Miss Tebbutt also spent a week in hospital after suffering two fractured ribs, a cut to her liver and a large cut to her forehead that needed ten stitches.

The court heard that police became aware of Gaskin minutes before the 1am collision when he drove off from a patrol car on Tritton Road after Miss Tebbutt was bundled in to his 4x4 following an argument.

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Prosecuting Phil Howes said the collision was seen by a number of witnesses but Mr Gurnhill could only remember waking up in hospital.

He said one witness estimated Gaskin driving at up to 80mph after describing his vehicle "swaying left to right, and "looking unbalanced."

Other witnesses described Gaskin as "nailing it," estimating his speed as between 90 to 100mph, and said the massive impact "was like a bomb going off."

Mr Gurnhill was left hanging out of his van and witnesses dragged him out of the van out of fear it would catch fire.

Mr Howes said Gaskin ran away from the scene leaving two injured people behind. A police helicopter was mobilised and Gaskin was arrested an hour later after officers stopped a van near Hill Holt wood on the A46.

Charlie Gaskin who has been jailed following the crash

Gaskin then ran away from the scene but was detained by a police dog.

He was taken to hospital to be treated for his injuries.

In his victim impact statement Mr Gurnhill described the consequences of the collision as a "disaster" for him.

The court heard Mr Gurnhill was unable to work or see his two children for several months and needed to move in with his mother.

Mr Gurnhill said once he returned to work he still found it very difficult to lift heavy items such as radiators or boliers.

In her victim impact statement, Miss Tebbutt said she was still suffering headaches nine months after the crash and did not like getting into cars.